12 people sought medical aid after radicals’ assault on demonstrators in Donetsk

Several dozen ultras attacked the demonstration and started hurling stones at people

KIEV, April 29. /ITAR-TASS/. A total of 12 people sought medical assistance after a group of unidentified radicals attacked on Monday participants of an antifascist demonstration in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk, the local municipal healthcare department said in a statement.

“Ten out of them were rendered medical treatment and allowed to go home, while two more were hospitalized,” the statement said adding that no one was killed during the incident.

Local media earlier reported that people wearing masks and armed with baseball bats, chains and nonlethal guns attacked participants in a many-thousands-strong antifascist march in Donetsk, chanting nationalistic slogans along with it.

Several dozen ultras attacked the demonstration and started hurling stones at people. There were also reports on the alleged use of hand grenades. The protesters rebuffed the attackers and the latter made a getaway from the scene.

People taking part on the march shouted slogans like ‘Fascism Won’t Take Hold’, ‘Say No to Nazism’, ‘Russia, Russia’. Many participants sang patriotic songs in the Russian language.

Last Sunday, radicals assaulted supporters of the federalization of Ukraine in the northeastern city of Kharkov. Several dozen people received injuries.

The situation in Ukraine is far from stable after a coup in February, which brought to power new people amid deadly riots as President Viktor Yanukovich had to leave the country citing security concerns.

After Crimea's accession to Russia, which Kiev and Western countries do not accept despite Russia’s repeated statements that the Crimean plebiscite was in line with the international law, protests against the new Kiev leaders erupted in Ukraine’s Russian-speaking southeastern regions. Demonstrators, who are demanding referendums on the country’s federalization, took control of some government buildings.